I wanted to enjoy this book a lot more than I actually did. The premise sounded so interesting and promising. Tully Truegood is in Newgate Prison awaiI wanted to enjoy this book a lot more than I actually did. The premise sounded so interesting and promising. Tully Truegood is in Newgate Prison awaiting her trial for murder. The book is Tully’s retelling of her life , and the events leading up to her incarceration. The story itself was ok. I just found myself cringing at the so called erotic descriptions throughout the tale. Not because I’m prudish, because they were so cheesy and cringeworthy. For me, that knocked a star off. There was history, mystery, murder, ghosts, love, sex. A great recipe for a story. It just fell slightly short of my expectations unfortunately. ...more
Sleep, Pale Sister falls into a category of books in which I cannot get enough of. The story takes place in the Victorian era (one of my favourites). Sleep, Pale Sister falls into a category of books in which I cannot get enough of. The story takes place in the Victorian era (one of my favourites). The narrative switches between four characters, each of which has a very distinctive and recognisable voice, and each of which is in some way damaged. We have Henry Chester, a successful artist, and the son of a deeply religious Methodist minister, Effie Chester, firstly his muse, then his wife. Moses Harper, a bit of a rogue, also an artist but not well recognised such as Henry. And finally we have Fanny Miller, a brothel owner, and the mother of Marta, murdered by Henry Chester some years earlier. Despite the fact that Marta is dead, she is very much present in the rooms of Fanny’s brothel. Moses sees Effie and decides he’d like to have a dalliance with her, so he worms his way into Henry’s life, wanting him to be his patron. It’s not long before Effie has fallen for him, helped by the fact she’s unhappy in her marriage to Henry. By chance, Moses and Effie encounter Fanny at the fair, and Fanny soon realises that Effie is married to the murderer of her daughter. A plan is made by Fanny, a plan in which she can not only bring her dead daughter back, but get the ultimate revenge on Henry Chester for the murder of Marta. The plan involves using Effie as a pawn. Moses readily agrees to Fanny’s plan as he sees it a way to earn easy money. The plan is hatched and put into action. It works exactly how Fanny hopes, and the final step is staged. But that part goes horribly wrong, and ends in death. The scene is very atmospheric, dark, gothic, and haunting. The story is quite dreamlike and ethereal at times. I love anything with a gothic setting, and this didn’t disappoint me. It’s very eerie, and the tension in the story is built to perfection....more
This is my second book by Nicola Cornick, and it really wasn’t what I was hoping for or expected it to be. I’m not especially interested in the fantasThis is my second book by Nicola Cornick, and it really wasn’t what I was hoping for or expected it to be. I’m not especially interested in the fantasy genre, but history and historical fiction are my favourite. The narrative is shared between Alison, a time traveler from the 16th century who is stuck in the present day, and Mary, a young woman living in the 16th century, who was the child of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour. Alison is a completely fictitious character. Mary Seymour however is not. Although there are no records of her in history beyond the first two years of her life. It’s widely believed that she died aged 2ish. Alison and Mary were both orphaned, and sent to live under the care of their wealthy relatives at Wolf Hall, the Seymour family, of Queen Jane Seymour fame. Mary seems to have a strange gift, she sees visions of both the future and the past. She is referred to by local people as a witch, but her name protects her. Neither of them are worth anything to the family, as both girls are now paupers after the deaths of their parents. Alison falls pregnant to Edward Seymour, the Earl of Hertford, her cousin. The pregnancy is kept a secret, and once she’s delivered of a healthy baby boy, he’s taken away from her and given to a new family. Of course she is absolutely devastated by this, but Hertford is now the head of the family, and she doesn’t have any power or influence in order to fight him. One day, the Seymour family are holding a hunting party. There’s a tragic accident whereby a woman within the party is decapitated by a tree branch whilst riding her horse. Mary is blamed, again accused of witchcraft. Alison bribes Hertford to banish Mary (and herself) instead of allowing her to hang. They are dispatched to another branch of the family, the Fenners. It is on the journey to their new home when Alison escapes, and using an hourglass, travels through time into the 21st century, leaving Mary to live with the Fenners on her own. It is whilst living at Middlecote, the house of the Fenners family, that she discovers sinister goings on involving the head of the family, Sir William Fenner, and his mother, Lady Fenner. She runs away, finding safety in the arms of Thomas Fenner, Sir William’s half brother. Mary is aware that he too has a gift, as they are able to communicate with one another without speaking aloud. They’ve been in communication with one another for many years, but weren’t aware of who the other actually was. Unbeknownst to Mary, Thomas is also a time traveler, like Alison. Alison spends her life trying to discover what happened to her son, but has been unable to find any trace of him. One day, she walks passed an art gallery in Marlborough. In the window is a painting, newly discovered, said to be of Anne Boleyn. Alison knows for a fact that it isn’t Anne, because she recognises the sitter immediately. It’s Mary. And in the background of the painting, is a box that once belonged to Alison herself. She goes inside the gallery, only to find the historian who has made the discovery is actually an ex boyfriend of her’s from when she was 19. She obviously doesn’t want to make a fool of him by revealing that he has mis-identified the portrait, and she doesn’t want to reveal her actual reasons for knowing that it’s not Anne Boleyn, because she doesn’t want to reveal her own past. But she knows that this is a possible clue to what became of her son, and where he might be if she was to travel back in time to find him. Is the plot far fetched? Absolutely. Is it believable? Absolutely not. Did I enjoy it? Strangely, yes. Cornick took the names of two real life people from the time period. Mary Seymour, and Edward Seymour. Artistic license was used in abundance, which is absolutely fine where Mary is concerned, as no real details about her life exist. I’m not overly keen on the use of artistic license where Edward is concerned though, because he was a more prominent historical figure, and there is much more documented information known of him than of Mary. However, I enjoyed the story....more
**spoiler alert** Well, I loved this book, but it is very open to interpretation by the reader. There’s no clear cut closure, the ending left me feeli**spoiler alert** Well, I loved this book, but it is very open to interpretation by the reader. There’s no clear cut closure, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied, and still very curious. However, it still reads as a wonderfully sinister psychological suspense thriller. Laura Purcell writes a gothic story very well, and this book has all of the details needed to give you those feelings of unease, suspense, danger, curiosity, and fear. The story is based on two main characters. Esther (also known as Hester), and Louise Pinecroft. Esther’s story is set in the present (which in this story is possibly regency era), and although Miss Pinecroft features in the present, her story is set 40 years earlier. Hester has been hired by a wealthy lady (Miss Pinecroft) in Cornwall as her lady’s maid/nurse. Hester is actually on the run, as she played a part in a unpleasant accident involving her previous mistress in London. She has changed her name from Esther to Hester as part of her disguise, and a move to Cornwall will give her the extra security she needs to escape the past. On arrival at her new home, Morvoren House, she finds that her mistress is partially paralysed, and very rarely speaks. There is talk of Miss Pinecroft’s Ward, Rosewyn Pinecroft, who is a grown woman of 40, but has the wits of a child. Her lady’s maid is an elderly woman called Creeda. Hester finds Creeda to be very strange, and is told by the other staff that she’s very superstitious and possibly a bit mad. Strange things happen around the house. Hester hears singing but cannot find the source. Her mistress is locked in her room as a prisoner, apparently to stop her from wandering (despite her paralysis). Rosewyn is also locked in her room too, to protect her from fairies according to Creeda. There’s a room devoted to blue and white bone China, where Miss Pinecroft sits all day every day. It’s freezing in there, no fire is to be lit according to Creeda. She just sits there, staring at the strange pieces, sitting vigil. Flashback 40 years. Louise Pinecroft and her father Dr Ernest Pinecroft are left devastated when the other members of their family are all taken by consumption. They relocate from Bristol to Cornwall in hope of a fresh start. Dr Pinecroft wishes to oversee a medical trial of patients with consumption. It’s his belief that if they are kept in a cool, damp environment, they will return to health. He uses a cave down at the bottom of the cliffs by the beach, and is sent men from the local gaol who have consumption to treat. During this time, he hires a maid for his daughter Louise. The maid is sent by her family to be treated for madness by Dr Pinecroft in return for her service. The maid’s name is Creeda. Dr Pinecroft’s medical experiment doesn’t go according to his plan, and unfortunately ends in tragedy. Flash forward 40 years and the present day. Hester plucks up the courage to speak to the housekeeper, Mrs Quinn, about Creeda’s treatment of Rosewyn, as well as the mistreatment of her mistress, Miss Pinecroft, at the instigation and insistence of Creeda. Mrs Quinn is forced to act, and removes Rosewyn from her care. That is the point in which this sinister tale comes to a climax. Despite the tragic ending, there is still so many parts of the story that are left open. ...more
The third book in Clements’s John Shakespeare series sees Shakespeare investigating a gunpowder bomb, placed outside a Dutch church on London, by unhaThe third book in Clements’s John Shakespeare series sees Shakespeare investigating a gunpowder bomb, placed outside a Dutch church on London, by unhappy apprentices, who feel that the Dutch people, and other “strangers” (as foreigners were called in England at that time) are taking their work, leaving English families poverty stricken, destitute, and seeking revenge. After the first powder bomb, there’s a second, in which Shakespeare is personally affected. He has even more determination to find the perpetrators, and see justice done. However, the third powder bomb is rumoured to be on a much larger scale, and is to be a Hellburner, a ship packed with powder, and all manner of metal objects, that uses a clock to send sparks into the powder, at a specific time, thus creating an explosion of epic proportions. Ironically, it was the Dutch who first used this idea, in a battle against the Spanish at Antwerp. Shakespeare absolutely must find out where this ship is, before it makes it’s final voyage towards London. A sub plot which runs side by side with the powder storyline, involves a Spanish Grandee, exiled from the court of King Phillip. He has a secret to tell, a secret which will change the future of not only England, but if Scotland also. He wishes to sell his secret to the highest bidder, whether that be the Cecils, or The Earl of Essex. The storyline moves at a great pace, and if I’m honest, I really struggled to put this book down. I now feel towards Shakespeare, the way I feel about Matthew Shardlake (CJ Sansom’s novels), and Giordano Bruno (SJ Parris’s novels). His character is incredibly likeable, and very human. His servant, Boltfoot Cooper also becomes more of a real person in this book. He plays a really great partner to Shakespeare, they’re a great duo....more
The Clockmaker’s Daughter, by Kate Morton. I’ve absolutely loved every book that Morton has written to date, so when this arrived on my doormat I was The Clockmaker’s Daughter, by Kate Morton. I’ve absolutely loved every book that Morton has written to date, so when this arrived on my doormat I was eager to get stuck in. In her usual style, this book is a time slip novel. However, this book is entirely different to her other novels. Yes, the main focus is a house, as in her other works. But, not only is this a time slip story, but it’s also a ghost story. We follow the stories of several people over a period of time from 1862 to 2017. All of these people are linked together by way of the house, Birchwood Manor, and a precious stone called The Radcliffe Blue. The themes of the novel are love, tragedy, death, folklore, natural history, art and art history. It’s so cleverly written, the way all the characters and their stories weave together seamlessly. And it genuinely kept me guessing to the very end. The characters are all from very different backgrounds, meaning the reader gets to experience the 19th century depths of Seven Dials in Covent Garden, London, then on the flip side, the life of a boy born to a wealthy family in 19th century London. We experience life in a 1890s girl’s boarding school, life in the 1920s, life post WWII, life in the 1960s, and of course life in the current times. The novel is extremely rich in detail, and provides everything needed to transport you back in time. Each character is fleshed out brilliantly, and very distinguishable from each other....more
This is a story based on Roman Mythology. Set in Alba Longa, Latium, Italy, starting at 788BC, We are introduced to Numitor, and Amulius, sons of the This is a story based on Roman Mythology. Set in Alba Longa, Latium, Italy, starting at 788BC, We are introduced to Numitor, and Amulius, sons of the reigning king of Latium. Although Numitor is the eldest, and heir presumptive, the king feels that he isn’t cut out to rule alone. He decrees that upon his death, the princes will rule jointly, but with a council, who will vote on subjects of state if/when the princes do not agree. Fast forward 15 years, the brothers rule jointly. However, Amulius is scheming to usurp power from his brother, he wants to reign alone. Numitor has a daughter, Princess Rhea. She too stands in the way of Amulius’s ambitions, as any children she may have would become heir presumptive. Unbeknown to the royal family of Latium, there is a secret sect who watch over the country, and protect it’s rulers, The Hounds of Diana, named for the goddess Diana. They control far more of the country’s affairs than the monarch could possibly begin to understand. A corrupt member of the sect, Brascus, plots alongside Amulius, and successfully usurps the throne from Numitor. Princess Rhea is placed into the care of The Vestial Virgins, sworn to celibacy for a period of 30 years. This should ensure that there are no dangers to Amulius’s reign, as Rhea will be beyond childbearing age after her vow expires. Nothing is ever simple though, right? Rhea is visited at night by the God Mars, who manages to place twin boys within her. She gives birth to the boys under the watch of the Vestial Mother, who confirms later that Rhea had not been pregnant when she arrived, and that she had continued her monthly bleeds throughout her stay. Rhea had given birth to twin boys, half royal princes, half gods, meaning they were descended from Latin Royalty, and a Greek God. These twin boys were to eventually be known as Romulus and Remus, Romulus being the eventual founder of Rome. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait for the next part of the trilogy to be published....more
Book 3 of The Fairwick Chronicles. I really enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, but this one was nowhere near as entertaining. The premise isBook 3 of The Fairwick Chronicles. I really enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, but this one was nowhere near as entertaining. The premise is great, the idea of Callie having to go back in time to 17th century Scotland in order to try and stop the door between Fairwick and Faerie being closed forever. That appealed to me. However...the way the story goes is actually just too ridiculous for words. I feel like 17th century Scotland was very poorly researched. I hated the way the characters kept saying the odd scotch word or phrase, then reverting back to modern English. It felt so unauthentic. Disappointing. At one point, Callie is looking in the kitchen cupboards of a small dwelling in Ballydoon in the 17th century. She notices that “they don’t have much food in”, as if they need to take a trip to Tesco or something. I’m sorry, I just didn’t buy into any of it. I think the three books could have been condensed into two larger books, instead of publishing two great books, and a poor third....more
The second instalment of The Fairwick Chronicles, sees Callie trying her best to get over her incubus, Liam, whom she banished to the borderlands in tThe second instalment of The Fairwick Chronicles, sees Callie trying her best to get over her incubus, Liam, whom she banished to the borderlands in the first book. He still visits her in her dreams, putting temptation in her way, trying to coax her round to bringing him back. But she knows that she has to get a handle on her power, and prevent him coming back, because if he was to return, it would ultimately end in her own death. She seeks the help of Duncan, another witch, to learn how to control her power, and also her desire for Liam. Duncan isn’t what she thinks he is though, and she ends up trying to banish him to the borderlands also. While this is happening, Callie is also trying to keep the door between Fairwick, and Faerie open, while members of The Grove, (an exclusive, members only club for ultra conservative witches) headed by her own grandmother, plot to close it forever. There is also the introduction of a fairy “drug” called Aelvesgold. This is essential to many of the witches, fairies, demons, and other creatures, to keep them alive. If the door to faerie closes forever, the Aelvesgold will also be lost forever. Again, this book isn’t something I’d normally go for, but I enjoyed the first book, Incubus, so much, that I had to continue on with the other titles in the series....more
This book was 100% NOT what I was hoping it would be. However, I still ended up enjoying it. I was hoping to read a gothic romance about a woman who hThis book was 100% NOT what I was hoping it would be. However, I still ended up enjoying it. I was hoping to read a gothic romance about a woman who had an incubus, I was hoping to get really spooked out, and extremely graphic details. Although the storyline is based on a woman who has visits from an incubus, that’s just one of the story threads. There’s a lot more going on than that. In some respects, I was disappointed that I didn’t get my sex-with-a-demon-fest. But in other respects, I really enjoyed the other parts of this book, elements that wouldn’t normally have interested me at all. In fact, if someone had told me there’d be fairies, vampires, and witches, I’d definitely not have wanted to read it. I love vampire books. I also love witch books. I would just have thought all this stuff together would be way too much. I was wrong. I also discovered that this was book one of a trilogy, so as soon as I finished reading this book, I ordered the other two from Amazon. I loved the historical theme of the book, the great big Victorian house, and the description of the house itself and the surrounding wood, which really built up a great atmosphere, and made my imagination run wild picturing everything. Some of the characterisations were cliched, but I still really enjoyed reading it....more
I so wish that Weir hadn’t gone with that age old myth that Mary Boleyn’s children (Catherine Knollys nee Carey and Henry Carey) were fathered by HenrI so wish that Weir hadn’t gone with that age old myth that Mary Boleyn’s children (Catherine Knollys nee Carey and Henry Carey) were fathered by Henry VIII. Within the first 10 pages we had Elizabeth calling Catherine her sister *eye roll*. I’ll openly admit that I’ve found fault with Weir’s non fiction before, but I’ve always enjoyed her historical fiction novels. This is definitely my least favourite Weir novel. I just couldn’t get into the story at all. I found it dragged on, and I found myself losing interest. I also disliked the fact that Weir makes Elizabeth’s reign a boring story about marriage proposals and marriage avoidance. I’m not disputing that Elizabeth liked to make promises of marriage and then drag her heels, we know she did. But there’s far more to Elizabeth as a monarch than just her list of suitors. ...more
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